Carleton Place Social Notes – May 2017

Ah May….April’s manic weather with its last bite of frost and torrential rains is behind us and its blue skies and sunshine ahead. The world is buzzing again – the bugs are back (groan) but the birds are singing, the perennials are sprouting and we can pack away all the dreaded snowsuit gear! Suddenly the time it takes us to leave the house is reduced in half as the kids can grab their ball caps and sneakers and go. May is a month of action. Well rejoice fellow Carleton Place natives – our town does May right. Patio tables are appearing street side, the Annual Pitch In volunteers have worked diligently to clean up the parks and roadsides and neighbours are raking lawns and cleaning out their garden beds. Suddenly there is colour and a bustle downtown as folks emerge from their long hibernation. Some of our favourite annual events are back too! Free Comic Day returns to downtown Carleton Place on May 6th at 10am. Bridge St will be transformed as fans big and small visit shops for Comic Book themed activities, special guests and of course a free comic! Wine’d Around Downtown is the annual footnote to May. Buy your T-shirt ($25) and participate in the fun on May 28th from 1pm-5pm. This annual wine and food tasting extravaganza raises funds for the CP Sister City Committee to help youth from our community and our sister cities (Comrie, Scotland and Franklin, Tennessee) participate in student exchange opportunities. Another popular fundraiser is the Community BOGO dinner for the Lanark County Food Bank happening at St James Anglican church on May 16th at 4:30pm. Enjoy a fabulous meal and every dinner ticket purchased allows a Food Bank client to attend the dinner as well. On May 26th and 27th enjoy the beautiful Mississippi from the Carleton Place Canoe Club while you browse the annual spring art Show & Sale. There are also some new traditions beginning this year. The Teen Expo comes to Notre Dame Catholic High School on May 2nd from 11:30am-4:30pm. Free Admission and open to all, this event is a showcase of community groups, resources and vendors geared to youths 12-19 years and their parents and educators. The newly formed Hometown Hearts is kicking off their calendar of community events with their May 11th Night on the Town. Starting at 5pm get on your retro gear and head downtown for live entertainment, food and drinks. While the Mississippi Mudds are no strangers to Carleton Place, they do has a new performance May 1st-6th. Head over to the beautiful Town Hall Auditorium and enjoy the classic HMS Pinafore reimagined by the creative team at the Mudds. As part of Canada’s 150th celebrations in Carleton Place you can take part in the “Paint the Town Red” Tulip Tour from May 14th -20th which launches the May 20th opening of a new exhibit at the Carleton Place & Beckwith Heritage Museum, “A Valley Town at Confederation”. On May 26th, pack up the family and grab a picnic and join your neighbours at Riverside Park for the Family Fun Fair. Let’s not forget friends about the ample green space our fair town offers. Trails, parks and playgrounds are open and ready for visitors to enjoy them. Spend the day fishing or boating, head out on a bike ride with the kids or kite flying in the park. There will be sidewalk chalk and bubbles and oh so much sand. As usual there is never a dull moment here in the busiest town in the valley.